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your own free…will？〃
〃Oh yes！ of my own willI would give him anything。 Do； do； your
honour； let him go！ His child is dying；〃 said the old lady； bursting into
tears。 〃It may be dead before he gets tobefore he gets there。 Oh； your
honour； your honour； pray； pray； don't detain him！〃
The justice did not seem to understand this excessive sympathy on the
part of Mrs。 Hayes； nor did the father himself appear to be nearly so
affected by his child's probable fate as the honest woman who interested
herself for him。 On the contrary； when she made this passionate speech；
Captain Geraldine only grinned； and said； 〃Niver mind； my dear。 If his
honour will keep an honest gentleman for doing nothing； why； let himthe
law must settle between us； and as for the child； poor thing； the Lord
deliver it！〃
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At this； Mrs。 Hayes fell to entreating more loudly than ever； and as
there was really no charge against him； Mr。 Ballance was constrained to let
him go。
The landlord and his friends were making off； rather confused； when
Ensign Macshane called upon the former in a thundering voice to stop；
and refund the five guineas which he had stolen from him。 Again the host
swore there were but fifteen in his pocket。 But when； on the Bible； the
Ensign solemnly vowed that he had twenty； and called upon Mrs。 Hayes to
say whether yesterday； half…an…hour before he entered the inn； she had not
seen him with twenty guineas； and that lady expressed herself ready to
swear that she had； Mr。 Landlord looked more crestfallen than ever； and
said that he had not counted the money when he took it； and though he did
in his soul believe that there were only fifteen guineas； rather than be
suspected of a shabby action； he would pay the five guineas out of his own
pocket： which he did； and with the Ensign's； or rather Mrs。 Hayes's； own
coin。
As soon as they were out of the justice's house； Mr。 Macshane； in the
fulness of his gratitude； could not help bestowing an embrace upon Mrs。
Hayes。 And when she implored him to let her ride behind him to her
darling son； he yielded with a very good grace； and off the pair set on John
Hayes's grey。
〃Who has Nosey brought with him now？〃 said Mr。 Sicklop； Brock's
one…eyed confederate； who； about three hours after the above adventure；
was lolling in the yard of the 〃Three Rooks。〃 It was our Ensign； with the
mother of his captive。 They had not met with any accident in their ride。
〃I shall now have the shooprame bliss；〃 said Mr。 Macshane； with much
feeling； as he lifted Mrs。 Hayes from the saddle…〃the shooprame bliss of
intwining two harrts that are mead for one another。 Ours； my dear； is a
dismal profession； but ah！ don't moments like this make aminds for years
of pain？ This way； my dear。 Turn to your right； then to your leftmind the
stipand the third door round the corner。〃
All these precautions were attended to； and after giving his concerted
knock； Mr。 Macshane was admitted into an apartment； which he entered
holding his gold pieces in the one hand； and a lady by the other。
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We shall not describe the meeting which took place between mother
and son。 The old lady wept copiously； the young man was really glad to
see his relative； for he deemed that his troubles were over。 Mrs。 Cat bit her
lips； and stood aside； looking somewhat foolish； Mr。 Brock counted the
money； and Mr。 Macshane took a large dose of strong waters； as a
pleasing solace for his labours； dangers； and fatigue。
When the maternal feelings were somewhat calmed； the old lady had
leisure to look about her； and really felt a kind of friendship and goodwill
for the company of thieves in which she found herself。 It seemed to her
that they had conferred an actual favour on her； in robbing her of twenty
guineas； threatening her son's life； and finally letting him go。
〃Who is that droll old gentleman？〃 said she； and being told that it was
Captain Wood； she dropped him a curtsey； and said； with much respect；
〃Captain； your very humble servant；〃 which compliment Mr。 Brock
acknowledged by a gracious smile and bow。 〃And who is this pretty young
lady？〃 continued Mrs。 Hayes。
〃Whyhumohmother； you must give her your blessing。 She is Mrs。
John Hayes。〃 And herewith Mr。 Hayes brought forward his interesting
lady； to introduce her to his mamma。
The news did not at all please the old lady； who received Mrs。
Catherine's embrace with a very sour face indeed。 However； the mischief
was done； and she was too glad to get back her son to be； on such an
occasion； very angry with him。 So； after a proper rebuke； she told Mrs。
John Hayes that though she never approved of her son's attachment； and
thought he married below his condition； yet as the evil was done； it was
their duty to make the best of it； and she； for her part； would receive her
into her house； and make her as comfortable there as she could。 〃I wonder
whether she has any more money in that house？〃 whispered Mr。 Sicklop to
Mr。 Redcap； who； with the landlady； had come to the door of the room；
and had been amusing themselves by the contemplation of this sentimental
scene。
〃What a fool that wild Hirishman was not to bleed her for more！〃 said
the landlady； 〃but he's a poor ignorant Papist。 I'm sure my man〃 （this
gentleman had been hanged）； 〃wouldn't have come away with such a
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beggarly sum。〃
〃Suppose we have some more out of 'em？〃 said Mr。 Redcap。 〃What
prevents us？ We have got the old mare； and the colt too；ha！ ha！ and the
pair of 'em ought to be worth at least a hundred to us。〃
This conversation was carried on sotto voce； and I don't know whether
Mr。 Brock had any notion of the plot which was arranged by the three
worthies。 The landlady began it。 〃Which punch； madam； will you take？〃
says she。 〃You must have something for the good of the house； now you
are in it。〃
〃In coorse；〃 said the Ensign。
〃Certainly；〃 said the other three。 But the old lady said she was anxious
to leave the place； and putting down a crown…piece； requested the hostess
to treat the gentlemen in her absence。 〃Good…bye； Captain；〃 said the old
lady。
〃Ajew！〃 cried the Ensign； 〃and long life to you； my dear。 You got me
out of a scrape at the justice's yonder； and； split me！ but Insign Macshane
will remimber it as long as he lives。〃
And now Hayes and the two ladies made for the door； but the landlady
placed herself against it； and Mr。 Sicklop said； 〃No； no； my pretty madams；
you ain't a…going off so cheap as that neither； you are not going out for a
beggarly twenty guineas； look you；we must have more。〃
Mr。 Hayes starting back； and cursing his fate； fairly burst into tears； the
two women screamed； and Mr。 Brock looked as if the proposition both
amused and had been expected by him： but not so Ensign Macshane。
〃Major！〃 said he； clawing fiercely hold of Brock's arms。
〃Ensign；〃 said Mr。 Brock； smiling。
〃Arr we； or arr we not； men of honour？〃
〃Oh； in coorse；〃 said Brock； laughing； and using Macshane's favourite
expression。
〃If we ARR men of honour； we are bound to stick to our word； and；
hark ye； you dirty one…eyed scoundrel； if you don't immadiately make way
for these leedies； and this lily…livered young jontleman who's crying so；
the Meejor here and I will lug out and force you。〃 And so saying； he drew
his great sword and made a pass at Mr。 Sicklop； which that gentleman
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avoided； and which caused him and his companion to retreat from the door。
The landlady still kept her position at it； and with a storm of oaths against
the Ensign； and against two Englishmen